THE owner of a Ryedale gallery has been shortlisted for the Climate Coalition’s Green Heart Hero Awards in the Best Small Business category.

Cecile Creemers from the Kunsthuis Gallery in Crayke, travelled to the Palace of Westminster to take part in the ceremony.

Made up of more than 130 organisations, the Climate Coalition represents more than 15 million people, ranging from aid agencies, such as CAFOD and Christian Aid, to groups, such as the Women’s Institute, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the National Trust.

The Green Heart Hero Awards give commendation to those who have helped to promote an environmental message.

Over the past year Cecile has participated in multiple campaigns to tackle issues with the environment such as partaking in a “plastic free” week and curating a 12-month extensive exhibition entitled, Our Earth, asking artists to reflect on the damage that climate change is causing.

The sales of the show raised funds for the charity Friends of the Earth.

Kunsthuis Gallery opened in 2014 by Cecile who is originally from the Netherlands.

A former graphic designer, Ceclie taught art classes, curated exhibitions and creative holidays before relocating with her family to the UK.

The gallery has also been nominated and shortlisted twice as finalists in the Welcome to Yorkshire White Rose Awards for Arts and Culture in 2016 and 2017 and in 2019 shortlisted

for the Green Heart Hero Award for contributions to climate change.

Cecile was accompanied and supported at the award ceremony by Thirsk and Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake.

He said: “I was so pleased to have been able to support Cecile and her team who have done a fantastic job.

“It was such an inspiring evening seeing the action of so many, from football clubs to primary schools, all taking the fight to tackle climate change in their own hands and all working towards a cleaner future.

“Climate Change is one of the biggest and most serious challenges that we face so I was proud to have attended wearing my green heart and showing my support for a net zero future before 2050.

“I want to part of the effort to leave a legacy for future generations that we can all be proud of.”